What is AcrylX and how does it compare to acrylic?

AcrylX is the applied acrylic finish used on Ella's made-in-the-USA shower stalls, multi-piece shower kits and barrier-free roll-in bases. The stalls and kits are fiberglass reinforced with the AcrylX finish on the surface and Armorcore reinforced walls behind it, so you get an acrylic bathing surface on a rigid fiberglass shell. The construction of each stall is compared in Ella Shower Stalls Compared: One-Piece AcrylX E-Series, Three-Piece 60x33 Molded Seat, and the Legacy ESM Gel Coat Stalls.

What AcrylX Is

Ella's product pages describe AcrylX as a long lasting applied acrylic finish. On a one-piece E-series stall or a three-piece low-threshold kit, the fiberglass gives the unit its shape and strength, and the AcrylX layer is the surface you see and touch. Armorcore reinforced walls on all sides mean grab bars and seats can be mounted anywhere on the wall, which matters when a bather's needs change after the shower is installed. AcrylX is also the name on Ella's barrier-free roll-in bases, which are pre-sloped, self-supporting and pre-leveled, with a textured slip-resistant floor and a beveled entry. Complete one-piece and multi-piece kits are carried by Home Depot, while bases, the collapsible dam and wall systems come through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, as explained in Ella Shower Kits and Bases: Multi-Piece Showers, Roll-In Bases, and Cultured Marble.

AcrylX Compared with Acrylic and Gel Coat

AcrylX is acrylic. It is an acrylic finish applied over a fiberglass-reinforced shell rather than a stand-alone sheet, and Ella's care instructions treat it exactly like any acrylic fixture. The published Ella documents do not draw a separate line between AcrylX and other acrylic surfaces. The comparison they do draw is between AcrylX units and the older gel coat units. The legacy ESM series one-piece stalls and the low-threshold gel coat multi-piece showers use a gel coat finish over fiberglass, and their published documents print a 3 year limited warranty. The AcrylX with Armorcore one-piece stalls, including the 48 by 37 by 80 inch E-3648 unit and the 42 by 42 by 80 inch Millennial unit, print a Lifetime Limited Residential Warranty and a 30-Year Commercial Warranty. Each product's published term is listed in Warranty Terms for Showers, Shower Doors, Seats, Faucets, Alcove Tubs and the Pet Spa.

Caring for an AcrylX Surface

The one rule in every Ella care document is no abrasives. Clean with warm water and liquid detergent or a non-abrasive cleanser made for fiberglass bathroom fixtures. Never use scouring powders or pads, steel wool, scrapers or sandpaper. Apply a good-quality automotive paste wax every six months and buff to a shine, but keep wax off the textured floor, because a waxed floor raises the risk of a slip. Dull spots and light scratches can be rubbed out with automotive polishing compound before waxing. Remove a rubber anti-skid mat after each use, and in hard water areas wipe the walls and floor down after showering so mineral deposits do not fade the finish. Using other materials and methods may damage the fixture and void the warranty. The full routine, including adhesive residue removal, is in Caring for Ella Showers: AcrylX Stalls, Gel Coat Units, SMC Bases, Niches, Teak Seats and the Flexible Dam.

Related Guides

• Warranty Coverage for Ella Shower Bases: 30-Year Limited Terms and the 10-Day Claim Window
• Scratches, Scuffs, or Discoloration on the Acrylic: Surface Care and Touch-Up Kits
• Which cleaners are safe for my walk-in tub, and which chemicals should I avoid?

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